Turbine and motor driving mechanism for rotary pumps



Aug. 2, 1932. I. c. JENNINGS f 1,869,696

7 TURBINE AND MOTOR DRIVING MECHANISM FOR: ROTARY PUMP-s Filed May a, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY Aug. 2, 1932.

l. C. JENNINGS TURBINE AND MOTOR DRIVING MECHANISM FOR ROTARY PUMPS Filed May 8, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 2, 1932 UNITED STATES IRVING C. JENNINGS, OF SOUTH NORWALK, CONNECTICUT TURBINE AND MOTOR DRIVING MECHANISMFOR ROTARY PUMPS Application filed Ma 8,

The object of this invention is to improve the operation of rotary pumping mechanism, especially rotary condensate pumping mechanism used in cormection with a steam heat- .5 ing system.

The particular object is to improve the steam turbine driven wet vacuum pumping apparatus shown, described and claimed in Letters Patent granted to me July 30th, 1929,

The apparatus disclosed in said patent comprises a wet vacuum pumping apparatus driven by a turbine arranged for operation on low pressure steam taken from the boiler and exhausted from said turbine into the plement the action of the turbine with an and heating system.

electric motor, and provide means for throwing the motor into and out of operation, which means is operated by the steam differential between the steam supply or boiler The invention is illustrated in the accompanying two sheets of drawings, in which Fig. 1 is 'a front elevation of one form of apparatus;

Fig. 2 is an end view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a plan View taken on the line AA of Fig. 1;

Fig. 1 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale illustrating the differential valve; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation on an enlarged scale illustrating the means operated by the steam differentialfor throwing the electric motor into and out of operation.

Referring to the drawings and in detail, A designates the receiving and separating tank into which the returns from the heating sys tem are led, and in which the air and gas separate from the water of condensation. Arranged in connection with the tank is a supplemental pumping unit B which is driven 1930. Serial No. 450,712.

by an electric motor G. Vacuum control H and float control I areprovided for the motor. The parts so far described may be constructed, connected and arranged as illustrated in my patent, Reissue No. 15,637 of January 26th, 1923, and need no further description.

Also connected to the tank is the main pumping unit P, which is driven by a steam turbine F which is connected to operate with the steam used in the heating system in the manner described in my Patent N 0. 1,722,847.

The steam passing from the boiler to the heating system is led through a differential valve W, which operates as described in my Patent No. 1,722,847, although slightly different in detail.

This steam difierential valve W comprises a casing having two valve seats cooperating with which are two valves 1010, mounted on a common stem 11. The stem is extended into a pot or casing 12, and has a plate 13 securedon the end thereof so that a dash-pot action is'obtained to prevent violent fluctuations. WVeights 14-14 are placed on the stem 11 to get any desired differential.

The upper valve 10 is made slightly larger than the lower valve 10 so that the steam pressure tends normally to lift the valves from their seats. By this arrangement, with relatively light weights, a small adjustable steam difierential pressure, say of two or three pounds to the square inch, can be obtained between the inlet and outlet side of the valve, which differential pressure is used to operate the low'pressure turbine, as de scribed in my prior patent before referred to.

Arranged in convenient proximity to the steam differential valve W is a device for throwing the electric motor into and out of operation. This device consists of a casing 15 in which is arranged a diaphragm 16. A pipe 17 is connected to admit the steam coming from the boiler above the diaphragm, and a pipe 18 is connected to admit steam after the same has passed through the differential valve underneath the diaphragm. The diaphragm 16 is carried by a hub 19 mounted on a supplemental diaphragm .20 secured in the casing. The diaphragms are arranged so that there will be a larger exposed area acting to lift the same, than to force the same clownward, by reason of the differential between the large and the small diaphragms. The small diaphragm 20 is set to engage studs or bosses 21 extending through the top of the casing, and carrying a ring 22, connected by a yoke 23 to operate any approved form of electric switch E, preferably a snap switch.

A stud or shaft 24 is screwed in the top of the casing and arranged on the same is a spring 25, the tension of which can be adjusted by a nut 26 threaded on the end of the stud 25. suitable casing.

This mechanism is arranged so that when there is not a sufficient differential of pressure between the inlet and outlet sides of the Valve W, the spring 25 will force the diaphragms 16 and 20 downwards and will close the electric switch E, and so that when the difierential in pressure is reached, the dia phragms will be forced upwardly and the switch E opened. Thus this governing device and switch will throw the electric motor into operation when the operating differential is not reached, and will cut the motor out of operation when the differential is reached.

It also will be noted that the device works irrespective of the boiler pressure, as the operation depends on the differential steam pressure on the two sides of the valve WV. This permits the proper operation of the device irrespective of the boiler pressure, so that the steam pressure in the boiler can be raised or lowered when necessary to supply the proper amount of heat to the radiators.

Thus the electric motor will be put in circuit to operate the supplemental pumping unit B, when the boiler is first started, and the governing device will cut the same out of operation when the proper steam differential is obtained on the two sides of the valve W. The motor will be thrown into operation again at any time when the differential necessary to keep the turbine in operation is not maintained.

It also will be noticed that the electric motor will not act unless it is necessary to maintain or raise the vacuum or to force the condensate back to the boiler, or to perform both of these functions as the electric motor is also controlled by vacuum and float control.

By the arrangement described a very economical apparatus is provided. The steam pressure necessary to produce the operating steam differential'for the turbine over the pressure required for the heating system is very economically generated in the boiler and is economically used in the turbine. The electrical motor is only called upon to operate the supplemental pump when the boiler is first started and thereafter only to assist or These parts may be arranged in a supplement the action of the pump, driven by the turbine, when-necessary.

As this supplemental action only takes place now and then, the cost of the electricity used to keep the apparatus in constant operation is reduced to a very low figure.

Vhile the invention has been shown and described as being particularly adapted for use in connection with a certain form of rotary wet vacuum pumping mechanism, it is apparent that the same can be used in connection with any rotary condensate pump used in connection with a steam heating system.

The details and arrangements herein shown and described may be greatly varied by a skilled mechanic without departing from the scope of my invention as set forth in the claims.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. The combination in a vacuum steam heating system of a differential valve in the steam supply line of the system for maintaining a differential of pressure between the steam supply and the heating system, a rotary pumping apparatus for creating and maintaining the vacuum in the system, alow pressure steam turbine operated by said differential of steam pressure for drlving the pumping mechanism, means to assist the pumping action in the system, and means controlled from said differential of steam pressure for throwing the first means into and out of operation.

2. The combination in a vacuum steam heating system of a differential valve in the steam supply line of the system for mantaining a differential of pressure between the steam supply and the heating system, a pumping mechanism for creating and maintaining a vacuum in the system, a low pressure turbine operated by said differential of steam pressure for driving the pumping mechanism, an electric motor connected to supplement the action of the turbine, and a switch controlled by said differential of steam pressure for throwing the motor into and out of operation.

3. The combination in a vacuum steam heating system, of a differential valve, in the steam supply line of the system, for maintaining a difierential of pressure between the steam supply and the heating system, a rotary pumping mechanism, a low pressure turbine operated by the differential for driving the pumping mechanism, an elec-' tric motor connected to supplement the action of the turbine, and means controlled from the differential of steam pressure for throwing the motor into and out of operation arranged so that the motor will function only when the differential does not exist or is not maintained.

4. The combination expressed in claim 3, in which the means consists of a diaphragm of steam pressure exposed to the differential of steam pressures, and an electric switch operated from said diaphragm.

5. The combination in a vacuum steam heating system, having a supply line, of a differential valve in said line, for maintaining a differential of pressure between the steam supply and the heating system, a rotary pumping mechanism, a low pressure turbine operated by the differential of steam pressure for driving the pumping mechanism, a supplemental pumping mechanism, an electric motor connected to drive the supplemental pumping mechanism, and means controlled from the differential of steam pressure for throwing the motor into and out of operation.

6. The combination expressed in claim 5, in which the means consists of a diaphragm exposed to the differential of steam pressure,

an electric switch operated from the diaphragm, and means for adjusting the operation of the diaphragm.

7. The combination of a receiving and separating tank for the condensate from a steam heating system, a differential steam valve located in the supply line of the system, a rotary pumping mechanism connected to the tank, a low pressure steam turbine operated so by the steam differential for driving the pump, a supplemental pumping mechanism connected to the tank, an electric motor for driving the same, and means for throwing the motor into and out of operation operated by the differential steam pressures.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

IRVING 0. JENNINGS. 

